Janhit Mein Jaari review: A light-hearted comedy that turns preachy

Janhit Mein Jaari attempts to spread a serious social message under the garb of comedy. The film is set in the small town of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh where couples still don’t believe in using protection and are ignorant about population control.

One of its residents, Manokamna aka Manu (Nushrratt Bharuccha) wants to finish her studies and find a job instead of getting married despite facing parental pressure. She is gutsy, frank and boisterous as opposed to everyone around her. She ultimately lands a job as a salesperson with a condom-making company.

Meanwhile, she meets Ranjan (Anud Singh Dhaka) with whom she falls in love. But her love interest comes from a family that is steeped in orthodoxy and nothing happens without the go-ahead from Ranjan’s father (Vijay Raaz). Understandably, Manu and Ranjan lie to his family about the former’s job profile. But for how long will they be able to keep up the ruse?

While Janhit Mein Jaari’s first half comes across as a typical comedy dealing with human emotions set in a small town, in the second half it morphs into a preachy social drama. One only wishes the messaging was more subtle. For instance, at one point, the viewer is suddenly bombarded with data about abortion and its risks.

This message is convincing in parts, but one wonders who is Janhit Mein Jaari's target audience? It seems niche enough to be a multiplex film, but the educated class in big cities is by now well aware of birth control.

There’s a scene in the film where Ranjan’s brother wants to have relations with his wife and it’s only now, after years of marriage that she develops the courage to tell her husband that he should use a condom.

Clearly, the film depicts a world that is quite rural but how many people in small towns and villages would be aware that such a film has been released? On the other hand, audiences in urban centres will find it hard to relate to Janhit Mein Jaari.

Nonetheless, the film is definitely entertaining in parts because of the funny one-liners. It has been written by Raaj Shaandilyaa while Jai Basantu Singh, Rajan Agarwal and Sonali Singh have peen the screenplay along with Shaandilya. What’s good is that the film soaks you into this world with its dialogues and the actors do a good job with the dialect.

From being a happy-go-lucky, mischievous young woman who only thought about herself to becoming a leader concerned about society, Bharuccha's character has quite an arc and this could be called her best work so far. 

Anud Singh Dhaka is quite promising and one hopes to see more of him, but it’s the supporting cast that deserves a special mention because they add all the charm to the film.

Brijendra Kala and Vijay Raaz are impressive. Sapna Sand and Ishtiyak Khan, who play Manu’s parents, are brilliant. Paritosh Tripathi who plays Manu’s friend will make you chuckle every time he’s on screen. The film’s USP is also that every character and actor makes a mark.

Janhit Mein Jaari is a one-time watch for its dialogues, occasionally funny moments and performances. One wishes Jai Basantu Singh didn’t shoehorn his message so forcefully in the latter half.